Pubdate: Fri, 22 Sep 2000
Source: Des Moines Register (IA)
Copyright: 2000, The Des Moines Register.
Contact:  http://www.dmregister.com/
Author: Staci Hupp, Register Staff Writer

TEACHER FACES DRUG CHARGES, FINDS SUPPORT

The Carroll school board must decide whether to fire a high school
speech and drama teacher charged last month with drug possession. If
it were up to Yvonne Fielder's students and their parents, the popular
teacher would return to work immediately.

Fielder, who has received statewide teaching honors, was charged with
possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after authorities
searched her home Aug. 16, court records said. Authorities found a
small amount of suspected marijuana and several pipes used to smoke
it.

A dozen or more students carried balloons outside a five-hour closed
meeting Wednesday that adjourned at midnight without a decision. The
students also held up signs, one of which read: "Honk if you support
Fielder."

"We heard about 600 honks, I think," said Amy Niceswanger, a junior.
"Mrs. Fielder goes beyond being a teacher. She's kind of like a mom.

"We were there to support her and to tell her we miss her and love
her. We all cried when we saw her. We're 100 percent behind her, and
we really want her back."

The meeting continued Thursday night, but a board decision is not
expected until early next week, Superintendent Steve Schulz said.

The process is taking "twice as long as anybody anticipated" because
of a long list of witnesses, including Fielder and police, Schulz
said. He declined to discuss details of the hearing.

Fielder, 48, of Glidden could not be reached for comment Thursday. She
has taught in Carroll for 16 years. She was honored last year by the
Belin-Blank Center for gifted education in Iowa City.

Niceswanger said Fielder coached her and others to all-state speech
tournaments. Many students have written letters and cards to Fielder
and sent letters of support to the community newspaper, she said.

"She means a lot to the school," Niceswanger said. "We feel that she's
innocent."

Several parents have also lined up behind Fielder.

"With the lack of good teachers in Iowa, it's terrible to go through
proceedings like this with one of the outstanding teachers," said Mary
Lewman-Stork, whose daughter, Rachel, was honored with Fielder in Iowa
City last year. "She challenges her students to produce their very
best efforts. She's had a positive long-term impact on countless students."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake